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The situation in Cyprus
Doc.
7717
20
December 1996
REPORT[1]
Rapporteur: Mr. Andr�s B�RSONY, Hungary, Socialist Group)[2]
Summary
Despite persistent efforts in recent years by the Assembly (Rapporteur: the late Lord Finsberg), no apparent progress has been made towards a peaceful settlement in Cyprus.
The prospect of negotiations for membership of the European Union suggests the time has come for fresh proposals.
In addition to pressing for more technical and practical co-operation, the Political Affairs Committee presents a proposal to improve the representation of all the people of Cyprus in the Assembly.
I. Draft resolution
1. The Assembly notes with regret that since it last debated the situation in Cyprus in February 1995, there has been no progress towards a peaceful and lasting settlement. It also regrets that no follow-up was given to the proposals then made in Recommendation 1259 and Resolution 1054.
2. This lack of progress, for which the political leaders of both communities bear responsibility, created the political climate which led to the killing of four Greek Cypriots and a Turkish Cypriot in the second half of 1996. The Assembly strongly condemns these murders.
3. Urgent measures, as proposed by the UN Security Council, should be taken to reduce tension along the cease-fire lines in order to avoid further bloodshed.
4. The present deadlock in the negotiations must be broken. The Assembly calls on the leaders of the two communities to resume their meetings, which have not taken place since October 1994.
5. In order to increase mutual confidence and respect, contacts between the two communities must be increased at all levels. The Assembly urges the authorities on both sides to refrain from any action which would impede such contacts.
6. Existing practical co-operation between the two communities, such as on the Nicosia sewerage system and on the Nicosia "master plan", should be extended to other areas, in particular to telecommunications and postal services. Communication between the two communities could thus be significantly improved.
7. The treatment of the Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the Karpass area gives rise to great concern. If implemented, the Assembly would welcome the improvements announced by the Turkish Cypriot administration as a step in the right direction. Further measures, as recommended by the UN Secretary General, should follow.
8. The Assembly reaffirms its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General to reach a comprehensive settlement on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
9. Membership of Cyprus in the European Union will bring considerable economic and political advantages for both communities. Such membership would be a major factor of stability, also in the region. The Assembly therefore calls on all political leaders concerned to demonstrate vision and to seize this opportunity to move forward.
10. Cyprus is entitled to three Representatives (and three Substitutes) in the Parliamentary Assembly, two of which are to be Greek Cypriot Representatives and one a Turkish Cypriot Representative. At present, only one seat (and the place of one Substitute) is filled, by a Greek Cypriot Representative, and a Greek Cypriot Substitute. Leaders of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties have, occasionally, been invited on an ad hoc basis to committee meetings.
11. In order to improve its dialogue with the people of Cyprus, the Assembly
i. resolves to examine, with a view to ratification, at the next opportunity, the credentials of two Greek Cypriot Representatives, and two Greek Cypriot Substitutes;
ii. instructs its committees concerned to invite representatives of the political forces of the Turkish Cypriot community to be represented whenever the situation in Cyprus is discussed;
iii. invites the elected representatives of both communities to start negotiating possible ways to ensure the proper representation of the whole people of Cyprus in the Assembly, and instructs its Political Affairs Committee to remain at the parties' disposal to facilitate such negotiations.
II. Introduction
by Mr Andr�s B�RSONY, Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee
At the time of his death on 7 October 1996, the Rapporteur, Lord Finsberg, was preparing a further visit to Cyprus in order to finalize his report. A preliminary draft outline report had been submitted to the Political Affairs Committee in Riga on 5 September 1996. The committee on that occasion decided to declassify the report and approved the Rapporteur's proposals.
At its meeting in Helsinki on 21 November 1996, the committee asked me, as its Chairman, to present a draft report based on the work done by the late Lord Finsberg.
Since the committee examined the preliminary draft outline report unfortunately no progress towards a solution of the Cyprus issue has been made. On the contrary, there has been further bloodshed. A Turkish Cypriot serviceman was killed on 8 September 1996 and a Greek Cypriot civilian was killed on 13 October 1996. The analysis made by Lord Finsberg, and his proposals, are therefore still highly relevant.
Several interested parties asked me to modify parts of the explanatory memorandum. However, I consider that the text strikes a fair balance and therefore present it to the committee without any changes.
The draft resolution based on the elements found in the report, was adopted by the committee on 18 December 1996. None of the parties concerned will be entirely happy with the proposals, but I sincerely hope that each will recognize that the overall text is fair and balanced. By accepting the proposals made, the parties would respect Lord Finsberg's "cry for sanity". He would have wished no greater tribute.
III. Explanatory Memorandum
by the Rapporteur, the late Lord Finsberg
I. Introduction
1. On 2 February 1995, the Assembly adopted Recommendation 1259 and Resolution 1054 on the situation in Cyprus, on the basis of the report I had presented on behalf of the Political Affairs Committee. In its resolution, the Assembly decided to continue to monitor very closely the confidence building efforts of the Secretary General of the United Nations. This report is intended as a follow-up to these texts.
2. Also on the basis of Resolution 1054, the Political Affairs Committee held an exchange of views with representatives of political parties of the two communities on 8 November 1995.
3. At the request of the committee, I visited Cyprus from 5 to 9 February 1996 (see programme: Annex 1). Meetings were held with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the Foreign Minister, the leaders of political parties as well as with Mr Denktash, and other leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community. In addition, meetings were held with the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr Gustave Feissel and diplomats from various Council of Europe member states, as well as with businessmen from both communities. I was also able to make an unprecedented visit by UN helicopter to the Greek Cypriot Community living in the Karpass area. I should like to express my gratitude once again to all authorities involved as well as, in particular, to the United Nations and its special Cyprus representatives and the United Kingdom High Commissioner for their hospitality and invaluable assistance. The importance of the guarantee powers was repeatedly underlined during my visit to Cyprus.
4. The committee agreed that meetings with the Turkish and Greek Foreign Ministers, and the EU Commissioner for External Affairs were also necessary. In consequence I visited Ankara on 9 and 10 June 1996 in order to meet the then Foreign Minister, Mr G�nensay.
5. Meetings with the Greek Foreign Minister, and with the EU Commissioner are planned this autumn. Because of the new government in Turkey, a further visit to Ankara may also be required.
6. This report sets out the political developments since the adoption of the above- mentioned Assembly texts. The current security situation on the island and human rights issues are also discussed. An assessment of the consequences of the European Union's decision to start negotiations on Cyprus' accession to the Union is also included. Finally a specific set of proposals, aimed at obtaining some progress, are contained in the conclusions.
II. Recent political developments
7. When the Assembly last debated the situation in Cyprus, there was still hope that an agreement would be possible on the confidence building measures which had been proposed by the United Nations Secretary General. Unfortunately, this exercise which was supposed to have restored confidence, became a painful and excruciating process, and failed to produce any results. The state of the negotiations is a sorry one. Each side must bear its share of responsibility for their failure although I would not wish to ascribe blame more to one side than the other. When one side made concessions the other prevaricated or demanded more; then went back at a later stage on some of the limited progress. I still believe that if the Security Council and the UN Secretary General had been tougher a solution would have been reached.
8. At present, these CBMs seem no longer on the table as such - although even their short term acceptance must not be ruled out - but could still be part of an overall, comprehensive settlement.
9. Regrettably and surprisingly, the leaders of the two communities have not met since October 1994. As a result, the negotiating process has become deadlocked and no progress has been made whatsoever. This situation should not be allowed to continue.
10. Certain contacts continue, such as meetings of the political parties of both communities at the Ledra Palace, but it is generally accepted that only President Clerides and Mr Denktash could achieve a breakthrough. Sadly, it would appear that the determination to achieve such a breakthrough has been lacking on both sides.
11. However, the situation has not remained static. The decision taken on 6 March 1995 by the Council of the European Union to open negotiations on the Cyprus accession to the European Union (which Cyprus had requested on 3 July 1990) within six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference has created a major new political factor. Its consequences will be examined in more detail below in Chapter V.
12. The international community has become increasingly concerned at the lack of progress towards a settlement. The UN Secretary General appointed a new UN Special Representative, former Korean Foreign Minister Mr Han Sung-Joo, in April. This was followed in May by the British Government's decision to appoint a Special Representative of their own, former British Permanent Representative to the UN and EU, Sir David Hannay. The aim is to bolster Britain's work in support of UN Efforts on Cyprus, based on its particular position and expertise. The Irish EU Presidency has also nominated its own representative, former Ambassador Kester Heaslip, in view of the prospect of EU accession for Cyprus. He replaced the original Italian Presidency representative in July.
13. Most people would say - and believe - that there is no working example of active and valuable co-operation between the two Communities.
14. They would be wrong for in Greater Nicosia two important examples can be found. The first is the unglamourous "Sewerage Board of Nicosia" which serves both Greek Cypriot Nicosia and Turkish Cypriot Nicosia. Their co-operation in this vital field dates back to a decision in 1968 to commission a study which was to include the whole of Nicosia's urban area on both sides of the "Green Line". Eventually the first 2 of the 3 stages of work were carried out, funded by the UNDP, the World Bank and the EEC.
15. The second is Nicosia's master plan which has been strongly supported by UNHCR and UNDP with funds from the USA. This should ensure that when the ultimate solution to the Cyprus problem is reached, Nicosia at least will not find a new building erected on the route of a proposed through road. If only such co-operation could be extended to other areas and services, and surely there is no sane reason why not, for example in the field of telecommunications and postal services.
III. The security situation
16. In his most recent report to the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Secretary General, once again, expressed serious concern at the "excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus and at the rate at which they are being extended, upgraded and modernised". He further deplored that neither side had heeded the Security Council's repeated calls to implement specific measures aimed at reducing the risk of confrontation along the cease-fire lines." (Doc. S/1996/411 - 7 June 1996).
17. The sad consequences of this tension were demonstrated on 3 June 1996, when an unarmed Greek Cypriot conscript was killed by the Turkish military inside the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia. They became even more evident in the middle of August when Greek Cypriot demonstrators clashed with Turkish troops and Turkish Cypriot counter-demonstrators inside the UN buffer zone. Two young Greek Cypriots were tragically killed and scores, including several UN peace-keepers, were left wounded.
18. These murders were the direct result of over-reaction by the Turkish Cypriots and can only be strongly condemned. We note the efforts of the Cyprus Government to restrain the demonstrators, although the demonstrators must have known that they would inflame an already tense situation. For anyone to attack and injure unarmed United Nations peacekeepers is wholly unacceptable. It is somewhat strange that the Foreign Affairs Minister of Cyprus in his letter of 13 August to the Secretary General (annex) did not even trouble to express his regrets on the attacks on the UN personnel.
19. During my visit to the island, the Greek Cypriot side repeatedly stressed the need for reduction of Turkish military forces in the North which were perceived as a serious threat. On the other hand, representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community stressed the need to maintain Turkish forces to protect the numerically inferior Turkish Cypriot side against Greek Cypriot military forces, which, they claimed, were continuously being strengthened.
20. Apart from the tragic incidents in the buffer zone, tensions between Greece and Turkey, such as during the recent Aegean dispute, have caused serious anxiety in Cyprus. The creation of a "United Defence Area" between Greece and the Republic of Cyprus has also contributed to fear that the Island would be involved were any hostilities to break out between two of the guarantor powers.
21. The Assembly, in Recommendation 1259, already welcomed the proposal for a demilitarisation of the island set out by President Clerides. The latter has also proposed that additional guarantor powers be named and that an international force be set up. He has further proposed that Greek or Turkish troops, if present, could become an integral part of such an international force. The force would be paid for by the Republic of Cyprus.
22. It would appear that such an international force, possibly modelled on IFOR in Bosnia, and perhaps equally under US command, could well be a possibility worth exploring as an element of a comprehensive settlement.
23. A further recent complicating factor in the security situation are the reported terrorist attacks against the Republican Turkish party. According to this party, these attacks are carried out by extremist forces wishing to achieve a territorial integration of Northern Cyprus into Turkey. Related to this is the growing demographic change taking place in the Turkish Cypriot area. As the economy continues to deteriorate, Turkish Cypriots leave the island and are being replaced by Turks from Anatolia. This trend is in nobody's interest and it must be a cause of real alarm. Concern was expressed on this matter both by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties. It is for the Republic of Cyprus Government to consider whether it is in the long term interests of the island for them to relax some of the trade barriers in order to halt the economic decline in the North and thus stabilise the population balance. Meanwhile, Turkey should refrain from encouraging its citizens to settle in Northern Cyprus.
IV. Human Rights issues
A. The Karpass
24. As noted in the introduction, I was enabled to visit the Greek Cypriot Community living in the Karpass area by UN helicopter during my visit in February. This was the first time that the UN had been allowed to fly to the area and it was only made possible thanks to the personal intervention of Mr Denktash.
25. About 500 Greek Cypriots whose average age is around 68 remain in the area. In his report of 19 December 1995 (S/1995/1020), the UN Secretary General criticised the treatment of this community and made many specific recommendations for improvement of the situation. During my visit, the people I met drew attention to many problems which had also been identified by the UN Secretary General and to which apparently in the meantime no solution had been found. There complains in particular centred on the following points :
- immovable property may not be bequeathed to relatives unless the latter also live in the northern part of the island. If not, the property is expropriated without compensation;
- there are no secondary school facilities and children who go to Greek Cypriot schools in the south may no longer reside in the northern part when they reach 16 (males) or 18 (females);
- lack of telephonic communication;
- off-shore fishing is not permitted ;
- there are severe restrictions both on visits by Karpass residents to the South (maximum stay five days), as well as on visits by family members from the South, who are not allowed to stay over night;
- there are severe restrictions on the UN's humanitarian and other tasks.
26. There can be no doubt that these measures amount to "demographic cleansing" and in my correspondence with Mr Denktash I stressed the urgent necessity of improvements.
27. By letter of 17 May 1996, Mr Denktash informed me that his authorities had agreed in principle to my proposal that the Greek Cypriot fishermen should be allowed to fish, albeit in the company of Turkish Cypriot policemen. In addition telephones had been installed in several houses and other would follow. It was also agreed that Greek Cypriots wishing to visit their close relatives in the Karpass area would be permitted to stay the night. Furthermore the Turkish Cypriot administration was examining the possibility of amending legislation in order to resolve the problem of inheritance of property. In the meantime priority would be given to compensating heirs. I communicated these proposals to President Clerides asking him to confirm whether they were being implemented. If so, the Turkish Cypriot authorities would have taken a necessary humanitarian and practical step forward with a view to restoring confidence between the two communities.
B. Missing persons
28. There have been strong reactions recently from both sides concerning the issue of missing persons. Sadly, there can be little doubt that all of them have died. Accordingly, it is to be hoped that both sides will refrain from using this tragic fact for propaganda purposes. Instead, both sides should genuinely support the work of the Committee on Missing Persons so that families concerned may be spared further suffering.
V. The European Union
29. Cyprus requested membership of the European Community on 3 July 1990. On 6 March 1995, the Council of European Union (EU) decided that negotiations on accession would start six months after the end of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference taking into account the results of the latter. In March 1996, Commissioner van den Broek, responsible for external affairs, stated that although it would certainly be preferable to have a solution to the Cyprus problem before accession to the Union, it was not an essential condition. It cannot be stressed too strongly that the negotiations for Cyprus to enter the European Union are critical. They provide an incentive for an overall settlement so that both communities benefit from membership.
30. The Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly stressed that Turkey should not be allowed to veto accession of Cyprus to the EU. The same position has also been voiced by Commissioner van den Broek and others. At the same time, my Turkish Cypriot interlocutors stressed that accession of Cyprus to the Union prior to a solution could lead to a permanent division of the island and, possibly, to integration of Northern Cyprus into Turkey.
31. In view of the dire economic situation in Northern Cyprus, with high inflation and repeated power-cuts, which were much in evidence during my visit in February, the economic benefits of EU membership to the Turkish Cypriot community would appear obvious. However, its leadership has made it very clear that for them the main issue is security, not economics. The Turkish Cypriot authorities further stressed that guaranteeing EU membership would eliminate all incentives for the Greek Cypriots to reach a settlement.
32. I would not share this position. It is clear that Cypriot membership of the EU will bring great benefit to the whole island in terms of grants and trade advantages and the EU will be assessing progress in the negotiations to re-unite the island and establish the federal bi-zonal bi-communal state. If the EU considers that the government of Cyprus is not genuinely negotiating with the Turkish community it may delay Cypriot membership. Equally if the Turkish community is being unreasonable the EU may well invite Cyprus to join and will not permit a Turkish communal veto to prevent membership.
33. These negotiations which are due to commence six months after the close of the Intergovernmental Conference may hold the key to progress. The sooner there is a solution, the quicker the undoubted benefit of membership will become and both sides should realise that they bear a heavy responsibility to ensure that they do not fail their citizens by being obdurate.
VI. Conclusions
34. Since 1983 the Republic of Cyprus has been represented in the Assembly by one full and one alternate member, leaving 2 full and 2 alternate seats unfilled. It is, in my judgement, important to hear as wide an expression of opinion as possible, including that of the Turkish Cypriots.
35. However, until a settlement is reached and a federal bi-zonal, bi-communal state exists, it is not legally possible for any Turkish Cypriot to be appointed. There is, of course, no reason to prevent the filling of another full and alternate seat by the Republic. This would have the great advantage of widening the political aspect and would in no way harm the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community because a full seat and an alternate would remain unfilled. Moreover, whenever Cyprus is being discussed in an Assembly committee, representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community should be invited. Accordingly there is a recommendation to give effect to this proposal.
36. Real effort must be made to provide proper telephonic and postal services to the whole island. This can be done without the need to recognize a separate state by means of establishing, for example, an agency to run the telephone service which could be privatised and controlled by a board of individuals drawn up from each community in a fair proportion.
37. A Cypriot postal service could be established by designating a series of postal codes for the entire island and ensuring that letters were only addressed to Cyprus. To avoid this idea being opposed by the Republic who would object to recognising stamps issued by the TRNC or by the Turkish community who would object to having to use stamps issued by the Republic, special stamps just bearing the name of Cyprus could be issued with revenue being appropriately divided. Of course, this might offend some susceptibilities but progress has to start somewhere.
38. Any one who has followed the unhappy Cyprus saga for over a quarter of a century would be a foolish person if he imagined logic played much part in the politics of the two communities.
39. I despair for the future because both communities defy the United Nations quite blatantly. In spite of UN resolution 1032 (1996) which called for a reduction in force levels and upgradings both sides have continued their military enhancement.
40. What can the UN or the Council of Europe do to counter and reverse such attitudes? To date every effort has been rebuffed by one party or the other or both! The EU negotiations may as I have said earlier help to knock heads together. The EU might say to the Government of Cyprus that accession to the EU will not take place while the UN is defied. The EU might make it clear to the Turkish Cypriot community that a failure on their part to negotiate an overall Cyprus settlement based on the UN proposals might speed up the entry of Cyprus and if the "TRNC" took the decision to try and integrate with Turkey, Turkey would need to consider her own position when wishing to join the EU.
41. I come back almost to where I started. If there is a will on both sides to forget - not forgive - the past and draw up a new constitution based on a federal bi-zonal, bi-communal state along the lines discussed ad nauseam then there is hope for the people of this unhappy land. If not, then whatever fate befalls this island can be laid at the door of the leaders of both communities who failed their peoples.
42. Over the past 5 years or so I hope I have built up a sufficient degree of trust with both Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash that my blunt words will be seen by both as a cry for sanity and not a personal attack on either of them - for I believe both to be men of integrity with whom I would wish to continue a friendship.
Annex 1
Programme of the visit to Cyprus
(3 to 9 February 1996)
Saturday, 3 February 1996
Arrival
Sunday, 4 February 1996
5.30 p.m Meeting with Ambassadors and Diplomatic Representatives of the Council of Europe Member States, at the Hilton Hotel
H.E. Mr Alexandros Sandis, Ambassador of Greece
H.E. Mrs Graziella Simbolotti, Ambassador of Italy
H.E. Mr Alexei Ivanov, Ambassador of Bulgaria
H.E. Mr David Madden, High Commissioner of United Kingdom
H.E. Mr Milan Tancar, Ambassador of Slovakia
H.E. Mr Henri Jacolin, Ambassador of France
Mr Janusz Jesionek, Charg� d'Affaires of Poland
Mr Dumitru Nicolae, Charg� d'Affaires of Romania
Mr Jiri Michovsky, Charg� d'Affaires of the Czech Republic
Mr Vladimir Malygin, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Russian Federation
Mrs Hildegard Dunkl, Counsellor, German Embassy
(list prepared by protocol seniority)
Monday, 5 February 1996
9.00 a.m H.E. The President of the House of Representatives, Mr Alexis Galanos, at the House of Representatives
10.00 a.m H.E. The President of the Republic, Mr Glafcos Clerides, at the Presidential Palace
11.00 a.m H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alecos Michaelides, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
12.00 The Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Lellos Demetriades and members of the Municipal Council, at the Town Hall
1.00 p.m Lunch by the Mayor of Nicosia, at Date Club Restaurant
3.15 p.m The Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Party, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, M.P., at his office
7.45 p.m Drinks at the residence of the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Alexis Galanos
8.30 p.m Dinner by H.E. The President of the House of Representatives, Mr Alexis Galanos, at Hilton Hotel
Tuesday, 6 February 1996
10.00 a.m The Deputy-Chairman of the Democratic Rally Party, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, M.P., at the Democratic Rally Party Offices
11.00 a.m His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus, Mgr Chrysostomos at the Archbishopric
12.00 The Chairman of the EDEK Socialist Party, Dr Vassos Lyssarides, M.P., at his residence
1.00 p.m Lunch by Dr Vassos Lyssarides, M.P., Chairman of the EDEK Socialist Party, at Skaraveos Restaurant
4.00 p.m The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Gustave Feissel and the Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus, Brigadier General Mr Ahti Vartiainen, at UNFICYP Headquarters
5.00 p.m The Rector of the University of Cyprus, Prof. Miltiades Chacholiades, at the University of Cyprus. Meetings with academic staff and students.
Wednesday, 7 February 1996
9.00 a.m The Chairman of the ADESOK Party, Mr Michael Papapetrou, at his office
10.00 a.m The Chairman of the Liberal Party, Mr Nicos Rolandis, M.P., at his office
11.00 a.m The Chairman of the Free Democrat Movement, Mr George Vassiliou, at his office
12.00 The Secretary General of the AKEL Party, Mr Demetris Christofias, M.P. at the AKEL Party Offices
1.30 p.m Lunch by Mr Kikis Lazarides, at his residence
Crossing to the Northern part
5.00 p.m Arrival at Ledra Palace Check-point
5.30 p.m Arrival at Onar Holiday Village
7.00 p.m Mr Rauf R. Denktash, President of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" "TRNC"[3]
8.00 p.m Dinner hosted by Mr Rauf R. Denktash
Thursday, 8 February
9.00 a.m Mr Ayhan H. Acarkan, Speaker of the legislative Assembly of the "TRNC"1
9.30 a.m Mr Hakki Atun, Prime Minister of the "TRNC"1, Chairman of the Democrat Party ; Mr Atay A. Rasit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the "TRNC"1
10.15 a.m Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, Deputy Prime Minister of the "TRNC"1 ; Chairman of the Republican Turkish Party
11.00 a.m Mr Dervis Eroglu, Chairman of the National Unity Party
11.45 a.m Mr Mustafa Akinci, Chairman of the Communal Liberation Party
12.00 Mr Enver Emin, Chairman of the National Birth Party
1.00 p.m Lunch hosted by Mr Ayhan H. Acarkan
3.00 p.m Mr Semi Bora, Representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in Nicosia
3.45 p.m Mr Birtan Asker, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the "TRNC"1
4.30 p.m Prof. �zay Oral, President of the East Mediterranean University of the "TRNC"1
5.00 p.m Mr Dorduran, Chairman of the New Cyprus Party
6.00 p.m Dinner
Friday, 9 February 1996
9.00 a.m Departure for the Karpass Area by UN helicopter
12.00 Ledra Palace check-point
1.00 p.m Departure for Larnaca
1.45 p.m Lunch by Mr Doros Christodoulides, M.P., Alternate member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, at Oasis Restaurant, Larnaca
6.00 p.m Departure
Annex 2
Letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
dated 13 August 1996
Dear Secretary General,
I am writing to you concerning the tragic events that took place in Cyprus on Sunday, 11 August 1996. It is very sad that Cyprus was the subject matter of extensive media coverage under these circumstances.
I would like to express my shock and indignation over the brutality used against the Greek Cypriot demonstrators, which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of a 24 year old man, while more than forty other demonstrators were severely wounded.
For 22 years now the presence of the Turkish occupation troops in the northern part of Cyprus has hampered all efforts to reach a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and has prevented the reunification of the island. In addition, as a result of the division of Cyprus, basic human rights, including the freedom of movement, are being violated on a daily basis.
It is against this background that the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation, in close collaboration with the European Federation of Motorcyclists, decided to organise a peaceful demonstration. This demonstration, which started on 2 August 1996 from Berlin's Brandenbourg Gate, crossed many European countries, and reached Cyprus on 10 August 1996, aimed at increasing the international community's awareness of the sensitivity to the continuous occupation of 37% of Cyprus, and in particular the right of Cypriots to travel freely in their own country. In order to ensure the peaceful character of their demonstration, the organisers held several meetings both with the Cypriot and the UN competent authorities in Cyprus. Moreover, the Government of Cyprus was monitoring the developments and was in constant consultation with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Unlike these measures, as soon as the demonstration was announced, the Turkish side immediately started preparing for violent countrer demonstrations and employed other measures. According to reliable information received by the Government of Cyprus, as well as according to the Turkish Cypriot press, some of the measures taken included the following:
a. the "police" in the Turkish occupied area was supplied with automatic weapons and electric batons;
b. over three thousand right-wing extremists belonging to the "Grey Wolf" organisation arrived in Cyprus from Turkey threatening "a special surpise package" for the demonstrators;
c. the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus were ordered to shoot at demonstrators attempting to move into the occupied area;
d. commando units, tanks and armoured personnel carriers were deployed along the length of the cease-fire line, which was extensively mined;
e. illegal settlers from Turkey were mobilised for mob counter-demonstration rallies.
Furthermore, the Turkish side's measures aimed at creating the impression that the clashes would be between the Greek Cypriot demonstrators and groups of Turkish Cypriots, thus enabling it to repeat its assertion that the two Cypriot communities could not live together. At the same time it was hoped that confrontations along the cease-fire line could justify the presence of the Turkish army.
The Government of Cyprus considers the brutal behaviour and criminal acts of the Turkish occupation troops and the stage-managed Turkish mob as another example of their callous contempt of every principle of human rights, and the rule of law. The death of the 24 year old unarmed demonstrator, Anastasios Isaak, was not an ordinary death, but a horrifying and brutal murder. Isaak was beaten to death by a group of Turks while he was trapped in barbed wires. Moreover, forty-one other demonstrators were injured, some of them seriously, by bullets, pellets and stones.
My Government is also deeply concerned by the phenomenon of exportation of terrorism from Turkey to Cyprus. This deplorable practice, for which Turkey appears to be so sensitive whenever the issue of human rights in Turkey is raised at the various organs of the Council of Europe, should give cause for grave concern to the international community including all member states of our organisation.
The Government of Cyprus strongly believes that, at long last, the international community should send a clear message to Turkey that it can no longer tolerate its criminal acts, its continuous aggression at the dawn of the 21st century, against the Republic of Cyprus. For its part, my Government will spare no effort in bringing to the attention of the international community, in all international fora, that we are determined to seek a peaceful and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, but on the other hand stand firm in the principles of international law and order.
The Council of Europe as the guardian of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe, should shoulder part of the task of making Turkey realise that the principles our organisation stands for are mightier than the sword and that continued violation will no longer be condoned.
Concerning these latest events in Cyprus I will also inform accordingly the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and I have instructed the Permanent Representative to raise the issue during the forthcoming meeting of the Ministers' Deputies under the item "Situation in Cyprus".
Last, but not least, I would like to ask you to bring to the attention of all competent organs of the Council of Europe the tragic events that took place recently in Cyprus.
(signed)
Alecos P. Michaelides
Reporting committee: Political Affairs Committee.
Budgetary implications for the Assembly: to be assessed.
Draft resolution adopted by the committee on 18 December 1996 by 20 votes to 4 with no abstention.
Members of the committee: Mr B�rsony (Chairman), Mr. van der Linden (Vice-Chairman), MM. Aloglu, Antretter, Baumel, Mrs Belohorska, MM. Bergqvist (Alternate: Andnor), Bernardini, Bj�rck, Bloetzer, Bokov, B�chel, B�hler (Alternate: Fischer), Cem, Cerqueda Pascuet, Chornovil, Deasy, Desyatnikov, Diacov, Domljan, Sir Anthony Durant, MM. E�rsi, Evangelisti, Gjellerod, Gotzev, Gricius, Hardy, Irmer, Iwi_ski, Kalus, Kaspereit, Kyprianou (Alternate: Christodoulides), Mrs Lentz-Cornette, MM. Lopez Henares, Maginas, Masseret, Medeiros Ferreira, Mota Amaral, Muehlemann, Mrs Ojuland, MM. Oliynik, Paasilinna, Pahor, Popovski, de Puig (Alternate: Mart�nez), Radulescu Botica, Mrs Ragnarsd�ttir, MM. Risari, Schieder, Schwimmer, Selva, Severin, Sinka, Sir Dudley Smith, Mr Spahia, Mrs Stepova, Mrs. Suchocka, MM. Thoresen (Alternate: Berg), Urbain, Van der Maelen (Alternate: Staes), Vella, Vrettos, Woltjer, Zhirinovsky (Alternate: Glotov), Ziuganov (Alternate: Lukin).
N.B. The names of those members who took part in the meeting are printed in italics.
Secretaries of the committee: Mr Hartland, Mr Kleijssen, Mr Gruden.
[1]. by the Political Affairs Committee
[2]. for the late Lord Finsberg, United Kingdom, EDG
[3]. This reference to the "TRNC" does not imply any recognition by the Rapporteur. The only state recognised by the Council of Europe is the Republic of Cyprus.